Storm-curtain for automobiles.



w.VH. FROST.

STORM CURTAIN FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPL1CAT10N H11-:D 111111.12, 1915.

1,171,781. Patented 1161). 15,1916.

UNITED STAWENT WILLIAM HL FROST, OF ETWANDA, CALIFORNIA;

i vSVZIOIRM-(DUIVIAIN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it -kno'wn that I, WILLiAM'I-I. Fizos'igra 'citizen Vof the-.United States, residing at and between the sfide curtains and the roofv ofithe top body may. be closed., keeping out the storm and rain.

- The principal object of my invention is to provide yimproved. and novel means whereby the storm curtain maybe quicklyoperated and securely fastened 'when it is desired to closethe opening above the door and which may be easily and quickly released. The curtain, when not in use, is po.

sitioned and concealed within the body of the door. Y

Another object of the invention to provide .means to .effect a water-tight Joint or 'seal between the outer face of thecurtain and the upper part of the door on which the curtain is mounted, whereb any Water running down the outer faceothe curtain will be diverted to the external face of the door and to the ground.

With these and other objects in View which will' appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the -construction and arrangement of parts shown and described and hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings which form apart of :this specification, Figure l represents a side elevation of an automobile body showing my improved storm curtain in use. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of my improved -curtain. Fig. 3 showsfa vertical cross-section taken through the center of the .curtain and door. Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross-sec tion of the upper part of the door withithe curtain around the roller and the door lid covering the same. Fig'. 5 shows a longitu dinal horizontal section taken through the top of the door showing the curtain within the door recess. Fig. 6 shows a detail view of curtain fastening members hereinafter referredto.

In the drawings, 10 represents the body of an automobile showing a front door y11 and a rear door 12 provided with hinges 13 of any preferred construction. Above said car Specification 'of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.15,1916`.

Appiieation fiiedmarch 12, i915. serial No. 14,012. 4 i f body is fop `14prc vifiea with from. .tiene 15 and rem' Curtain 16- BetWeensaid-side .curtains and above rear door 12 is shown my improved storm curtain 17. l I Referring now to Fig. 3, the upper partof.

door 12 is provided Withfa groove or channel 18 extending longitudinally along .the upper edge of said door. Said groove 18fis provided with end bearings'19` and'20` in which studs 21 and -22 .of curtain roller 23 are journaled. A storm. curtain24: of `any f, suitable material is fastenedto said vroller at one end and'is providedlwith aslat 25 at the other. Said roller., isofthe ordinary window-shade roller,` construction provided with means such as' a helicalfspring mounted within said roller, tending towind;

the curtain around said roller. y.On theinner side and onl the upper part of the top" frame', a pair of button-shaped slat supports 26 are provided'which are adapted.y to engage curtain 24 when the saine is Ain use. `The corners of the free end of the curtain 24 are cut away, as shown yat 27, to lpermitslat 25 to be hooked over the slat supports `2 6.' y On either side of the curtain opening are Apro'- vided a plurality of curtain fastening devices mounted on side curtains 15 and 16, respectively; said devices, as shown in Fig. 6, consisting of a pair of resilient rods or bars 28 and 29, the member 29 being secured on the outer side of the side curtains while member 28 is secured on the inner side. Said curtain fastening devices are provided at their. free ends with a ball and socket joint 30 and 31. rlhe ball-joint is adapted to .pass through perforation or eyelet B2 provided on either side of the curtain. It is evident from the construction of the curtainA wound up and not in use. Hinged along the external edge of the upper face ofthe door 12 is lid 34 adapted to Vform a closure over groove 18; the inner edge of said lid projecting slightly beyondthe-inner face of door 12 in order to facilitate the 'opening of A flexible said lid, as will be understood. flap 35 of any suitable material` is sewedv on or secured in any other suitable manner to storm curtain 24; with its free end extending downwardly. Said iap is secured to said storm curtain 24 atsuch a distance from roller 23 that the same Will overlap lid 34 and extend for some distance thereon When slat 25 is hooked over supports 26 and the curtain is in use. Lid 34 is mounted to door 12 by means of hinges 36 and 37, said hinges being provided with helical springs 38 which tend to close said lid over groove 18.

Operation: Then it is desired to use the storm curtain, lid 34 is opened, slat 25 is unhooled from its supports 33 and the storm curtain is raised. and hooked over supports 26 carried on the top frame. Springs 3S of the hinges 36 and 37 will yieldingly hold iid 34 against the storm curtain and flap 35 will extend 'for some distance on the external face of lid 34. The storm curtain is now fastened to the side curtains 15 and 16 bymeans of the fastening devices 28 and 29.

It is thus seen that I have provided an etticient storm curtain, easy in operation and effectively keeping out the storm. Any rain beating against the side of the automobile will run down top iiap 39 extending down- Wardly from the top frame 14 and the Water flowing down the external face of curtain 24 will beY diverted to the outer face of lid 34 and door 12 and to the ground by means of the flexible flap 35.

IVhil'e I have shown the specific construction ofiny improved storm curtain, it is obvious that various modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention, provided they fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a body provided with a. longitudinal chamber along its upper edge, a curtain roller mounted therein, a curtain having one end secured to said roller, curtain fastening means mounted on the other end of said curtain, a lid hinged to cover said chamber, means yieldably tending to close said lid over said chamber, and flexible means forming a Water tight joint With the curtain and adapted to divert the Water running down the curtain to the outer face of the body. Y

2l In combination, a body provided with a groove at its upper part, a curtain roller mounted in said groove, a curtain secured to said roller and adapted to wind thereon, means for holding the curtain in its un- Wound lposition, a lid covering said groove, means tendingto close said lid, and a fiex. ble iap secured to said curtain and adapted to form a Water tight joint with the lid and divert Water running down the curtain to the outer face of the body.

In Witness that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this y4thday of March, 1915. 'y

WILLIAM H. FROST.

Witnesses:

J. L. GELLER, FLORENCE LEA. 

